Love Akron Encounter | April Edition
- bbush48
- Apr 10
- 6 min read
DID YOU KNOW?!
Love Arron has been loving Greater Akron for 30 years and what a joy it has been!
As our city celebrates 200 years, we’re honored to have played a part in loving and serving Greater Akron over the past three decades. Rooted in prayer and built on relationships, Love Akron has spent the last 30 years creating space for connection, unity, and hope, helping people across our city come together in meaningful ways.
There’s so much to celebrate and still so much to come. As we look back with gratitude and ahead with purpose, we invite you to join us in the journey. Join us in praying for our community, celebrating Akron’s big birthday, and showing up to Encounters and other opportunities around our community. Your presence matters and we are grateful to have you walk alongside us in Loving Greater Akron
Living Out Noun2Verb
Here’s a glimpse of how we’ve been putting love into action throughout the community in recent months!
Grief Recovery Method
It starts with a quiet moment. A tug on the heart. A whisper that says, “Something needs to change.”
That’s how it began for many of the 88 people who signed up this year for a class. They walked into a room, some nervous, some unsure, all carrying stories of loss. No two stories are the same, but they share a common thread: the courage to show up.
So far this year, we’ve offered 11 classes and there’s still room for more stories. More healing. More hope. Upcoming classes will be held at the Love Akron office, The House of the Lord, and virtually. We also have special sessions designed for alumni who are ready for a refresher, a space to return and re-engage with what they’ve learned.
Classes begin again this month and next, and whether it’s your first time or you’ve walked this path before, there’s a place for you. Or maybe there’s someone in your life who’s ready, you can be the one to nudge them toward the next step.
Healing doesn’t happen all at once. It happens one honest moment at a time. Maybe that moment is now. Sign up for a class today!
The Locker Room Experience
In March, something special happened.
Students from all six Akron Public Schools high schools walked into a room not just as classmates, but as changemakers. They have spent the school year working together, dreaming big, and preparing to share their ideas at the LRE Symposium. But this year felt different. This time, they weren’t just participants, they were leaders. We invited them to operate more like a nonprofit, to take real ownership, and to shape the kind of change they want to see in their schools. And they rose to the occasion.
One by one, each team took the stage to present their end-of-year project pitches. There was energy, nerves, laughter, and most of all, purpose. Adults and peers alike listened, asked thoughtful questions, and left inspired by the heart and vision these students brought forward.
And the story isn’t over.
In early May, we’ll gather again for our next symposium. This time, a panel of incredible community leaders will join us to hear the students’ final reports, offer feedback, and celebrate all they’ve accomplished.
Want to witness it for yourself? Want to see what it looks like when youth lead the way? Reach out to our team at office@loveakron.org we’d love to help you find a way to get involved.
The J.E.D.I. Experience
From the very beginning, our vision for the J.E.D.I. Cohorts has been clear. We’re not here to just talk about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We’re here to do the work.
That work isn’t always easy. It asks us to sit with tension, to examine what we think we know, and to hold space for experiences that challenge our own. But time and time again, each cohort reminds us why this journey matters.
Our fourth J.E.D.I. Cohort is deep in that process right now. They’re showing up with courage, curiosity, and a desire to grow. And one concept that has given language to what we’re building is the idea of a Brave Space.
The poem by Micky Scottbey Jones has become a powerful guide for us. It puts words to something we’ve always believed. Safe spaces are important, but brave spaces are transformative.
In a brave space, we acknowledge that we won’t be perfect. That we carry scars, and we’ve caused wounds. But we still show up. We listen deeply. We challenge each other to grow in truth and love. And we commit to working on it side by side.
That’s what we’ve seen across every cohort. A willingness to lean in. A hunger to grow. A shared responsibility to do better for ourselves, for our communities, and for one another.
Check out this poem by Micky Scottbey Jones and hopefully you are as inspired as us to join in a Brave Space!
Cultural Humility Training
Sometimes, the most meaningful growth happens in quiet moments around a table, in conversation, or during a pause to reflect on what we thought we already understood.
That’s what we experienced recently during our Cultural Humility sessions with Chapel Hill Christian School and Raymond Dental Group. We gathered not just to teach, but to learn alongside one another. Through honest dialogue, self-examination, and shared stories, these trainings became more than just sessions, they became spaces for deeper understanding and connection.
What encouraged us most was seeing how open-hearted and engaged each group was. It was a reminder of why this work matters: because transformation starts when people are willing to show up, listen, and lean in.
If you're curious about how Cultural Humility could play a role in your organization’s journey, we’d love to talk. Reach out to office@loveakron.org to connect with our team and explore what this could look like for you.
Community Catalyst Event
Part of our team recently attended the Community Catalyst event, where nonprofits and community groups from all across Ohio gathered to learn, share, and grow together. It was an amazing reminder that we’re not in this alone in this work.
And if you look closely, you’ll spot Dr. Mark Ford jumping in on our photo! We loved getting to hang out with him.
Did you know he’s co-chairing our 30th Anniversary Celebration alongside Coach Kemp Boyd? It’s going to be a powerful event you won’t want to miss. Check out sponsorship opportunities and reserve your spot today!
Left to Right: Crystal McCann, Dr. Mark Ford, Brittney Bush, Coach Kemp Boyd, Lori Porter, Robert Reffner
Loved these updates? Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected and keep up with all the exciting things happening at Love Akron
UPCOMING EXPERIENCES
Join us on Thursday, May 1, for the National Day of Prayer, as we come together to pray for our nation, our communities, and our beloved city of Akron as it celebrates its bicentennial.
This is a sacred moment to unite in worship, lift our voices in gratitude, and seek guidance and blessings for the future. Together, we’ll pray for unity, hope, and strength across our country and for Akron as it steps into its next chapter.
There will also be opportunities to join us for nightly prayer walks on April 27-30 at 6:00PM in downtown near the Summit County Courthouse Steps (209 S. High St.) leading up to National Day of Prayer!
All are welcome! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors as we honor this sacred time with faith and fellowship. Let’s join hearts to make a difference through prayer!
RSVP on our Facebook event and help us spread the word. Let’s unite in prayer and make sure every corner of our community knows they’re invited!
Love Akron Connect brings people together from the Greater Akron marketplace to build relationships, pray, and encourage one another to live out their faith.
In February we had the pleasure of learning more about Daneé Pinckney, the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year, and all walked away with a mound of inspiration!
Get your tickets today for our next two Connects this year!
Make sure you SAVE THE DATE! We are beyond excited to celebrate 30 years of Loving Greater Akron with you! Tickets and Sponsorships are available now! Join us as we celebrate the incredible journey we’ve been on and dream big together about what’s next.
HAPPY
200TH
BIRTHDAY
AKRON!!
As we celebrate 30 years of Loving Akron, we're also celebrating Akron’s incredible 200th birthday! Check out the city's bicentennial page to see all the exciting events happening around our awesome city and find ways to get involved. And remember, if you don’t do anything else, Love Greater Akron!
If you don't do anything else, make sure you Love Greater Akron!
-The Love Akron Team
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